The danger of speedy degeneracy, held forth in a sermon preached at the lecture…

Consider 1.

Men do not favour of a Gracious Spirit. Men are wont to discourse much about their Callings; so the Merchant, the Seaman, the Husbandman: if men made it their work to Serve God, it is strange they should ⟨image ?⟩be so silent about it: Men that are going a Journey or Voyage, are wont to be discoursing about it: if men were travelling to Heaven, it is much they should not seem to mind it: Men are wont to favour of such dispositions as are in their hearts, Psal. 30. 31. The mouth of the Righteous speaketh of righteousness, and his tongue talketh of judgment: the law of God is in his heart. But many people don't favour of a gracious spirit; they favour of worldliness, pride, envy and frowardness: but there is no edification in their discourses; they pray favourly, but they talk unfavourly; there is scarce any Religion to be discerned in them, but only in religious duties; seldom talk any thing of Religion, except it be about some matter of contention, or to run down some other men; they don't quicken one another by their discourses.

2. Duties of Religion are much neglected. Holiness teaches men to be much in them; Psal. 122. 1. I was glad when they said to me, let us go up to the house of the Lord: Psal. 27. 4. One thing have I desired, and that will I seek after, to dwell all the days of my life in the house of the Lord. But there is a considerable neglect of duties of Religion: the Scripture is not duly read in many Families; ⟨p. 17⟩